Once upon a time (2006 to be more exact) there was a Portland city commissioner (Randy Leonard) who decided to solve the public restroom problem with a main goal of safety and security. He got together with the fire and police department, the maintenance crew and the ultra-elite Loo squad, featuring an ace toilet designer (Curtis Banger). Their brain child would be named The Portland Loo.
The Loo took its first steps in Portland in 2008 with the very first Loo opening next to the Union Station bus stop. After that the word spread about the innovative design and the Loo took roots in 15 cities in the US. And two cities in Canada. The crime prevention design of the Loo is well loved by city officials looking for their solution to solve their public restroom needs.
After all the growing and moving around, the Loo has opened its wings and has gone over seas, far far away…. to New Zealand.
The first New Zealand Loo opened on December 24th, 2016. The Loo is located on Baldwin St., the steepest street in the world in the city of Dunedin. Cruise ships stop in Dunedin bringing hundreds of tourists to Baldwin St. and causing local business to struggle to provide tourists with a place to go. The residents spent years urging the Dunedin city official to find a solution and that solution came as the Portland Loo. When a New Zealand Council member Kevin Taylor, visited Portland and saw the Loos, he realized how effective they were and knew it would work well in New Zealand too
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